Putting training device

ABSTRACT

A putting training device comprising a putter module which is selectively attachable and detachable to a putter and a target module. The putter module includes at least one indicia viewable when a users head is substantially vertically above the module. The putter module further includes a signaling element and the target module including a receiving element, and an indicating element. In use, the putter is directed towards the target module. A golf ball is struck in the direction of the target module and the indicating element alerts the user of impact condition.

BACKGROUND

This device pertains to the field of golf in general and specifically tothe art of putting. The art of putting consists of three major factors;posture and alignment at address to the ball, tempo of the puttingstroke and striking the ball with the club face perpendicular to target.Many attempts have been made in the past to devise a product that couldalert the user in real time to the condition of these factors while theyare practicing the art of putting. Some prior art has been successfulby; addressing only one or two of the factors, by incorporating thesensing means into a custom putter which is not legal for USGAtournament play, or by large expensive stationary devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A putting training device comprising a putter module which isselectively attachable and detachable to a putter and a target module.The putter module includes at least one indicia viewable when a usershead is substantially vertically above the module. The putter modulefurther including a signaling element and the target module including areceiving element, and an indicating element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a front elevation view of the putter module;

FIG. 1 b is a side elevation view of the putter module;

FIG. 1 c is a rear elevation view of the putter module;

FIG. 2 is a front perimeter view of the target module;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the putter module circuitry;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shutter;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the aperture;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the target module circuitry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The putting training device described herein, address the three majorfactors, is small, portable, can be affixed to any right handed putterand will be affordable to most golfers. The benefit of this is that thegolfer can practice their putting (at home, at the office or on aputting green) with a putter they are accustom to, remove the trainingdevice and go play with a putter that conforms to USGA rules. The deviceprovides the user with instant feedback as to the temp of their puttingstroke, the squareness to the target at impact with the ball and postureand alignment at address. The device consists of two modules, the PutterModule (FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c) and the Target Module (FIG. 2). Oncethe Putter Module (FIG. 1 a, 1 b, 1 c) is affixed to the users putterand turned on, the user will notice a small green light 8 that appearson the top of the Putter module. This light has a limited viewing angleand the users head must be directly over it to be seen. This is theposture most experts in the field feel is required at address to theball to achieve proper alignment to the target. Next, the user will aimthe face of their putter towards the target. When the Putter Module(FIG. 1 a, 1 b, 1 c) acquires the Target Module (FIG. 2), an amber light14 will appear on the target. Next, the user will take a few practicestrokes, observing the green light 8 on the Putter module (FIG. 1 a, 1b, 1 c). If the green light (LED) 8 is constant, the users' stroke issmooth and pendulum like. The aperture of green light 8 is tangent tothe shutter (FIG. 4). If the green light is intermittent, the stroke isjerky, indicating over acceleration or deceleration. When the user issatisfied that their stroke is smooth, they will address the ball.Again, they will check their posture by observing the green light (LED)8 on top of the Putting module (FIG. 1 a, 1 b, 1 c) and check thesquareness of the face of the putter to the target by observing theamber light 14 on the Target Module (FIG. 2). Next, they will stroke theputt towards the target. At the moment of impact, the amber light 14will go out. If the putter was square to the target at impact, a greenlight (LED) 15 will appear on the Target module (FIG. 2). If the putterface was not square to the target, no light will appear. After a 2second delay, the Target Module (FIG. 2) will again be ready torecognize an alignment signal from the Putter Module (FIG. 1 a, 1 b, 1c). The Putter Module (FIG. 1 a, 1 b, 1 c) consists of: The mountingbracket 1, which attaches the module to the putter. The clamp 2, whichholds the mounting bracket to the putter. The pivot 3, which allows themodule to position itself perpendicular to the ground regardless of thelie angle of the putter. The aperture control 4, which varies the widthof the beam projected by the target module (FIG. 1 a) thru the lens 6.And the housing 7, which contains the printed circuit board (describedin schematic drawing FIG. 3) and the battery door which allows forreplacement of the battery. The Target Module (FIG. 2) consists of astand 11, and housing 12. Within the housing 12 is a printed circuitboard, described by the schematic drawing (FIG. 6). On the printedcircuit board and appearing on the front face of the target are; anAmber LED 14, a Green LED 15 and an IR receiver 16. The target (FIG. 2)also has a target housing door 13 for easy replacement of the batteries.

Those versed in the art, will recognize the functions described in theschematic circuits shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. FIG. 3, the Putter Module,describes the following functions:

-   C1-capacitor—conditions the power supply provided by the battery B1    thru switch S1.-   R8&9-resistors—provide a reference voltage to set the low battery    indicator-   R1&D1—Green LED & current limiting resistor, provide the posture    alignment indicator-   R2&R3—resistors, provide a reference voltage to set the sensitivity    of X1-   X1—Piezo element, converts the mechanical energy of the shock of    impact with the ball to an electrical signal-   uC1 —Microcontroller, signals a low battery condition by blinking    D1, senses the impact of the ball via X1 and times the impact signal    generated by 1C1-   1C1—Quad nand gate, generates the alignment signal and impact signal    impressed on the carrier signal sent by D2-   X2—Resonator, generates the 455 Khz. carrier signal-   Q1—Transistor, drives D2-   D2—Inferred emitting diode, sends the signal to the target

FIG. 6, the Target Module describes the following:

-   PT1—Inferred detector, which received the signal from the Putter    Module-   R1&R2—Resistors which provide a voltage reference for the low    battery function-   U1—Microcontroller, interprets the signal received from the Putter    Module via PT1-   And determines which LED to illuminate (Amber 14 and Green 15)-   Q1&Q2—transistors, which drive their respective LED's-   D1&D2—LED's which display the alignment signal and the proper impact    signal

1. A putting training device comprising: a putter module which isselectively attachable and detachable to a putter, and a target module;said putter module including at least one indicia viewable when a usershead is substantially vertically above the module, said putter modulefurther including a signaling element; and, said target module includinga receiving element, and an indicating element.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein the signaling element comprises an infrared light source.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein the receiving element comprising an infraredreceiver.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the indicia is a light. 5.The device of claim 1 wherein an aperture allows adjustment of a beamwidth generated by said signaling element.
 6. The device of claim 4wherein the light is generated by a light emitting diode.
 7. The deviceof claim 6 wherein a pendulum element intermediate said light and anoutlet for said light from a housing physically occludes viewability ofthe light when a swing is off track or uneven in velocity.
 8. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the said putter module is attachable to a shaft ofsaid putter via a mounting bracket and clamp.
 9. The device of claim 1wherein the said putter module includes a pivot joint intermediate saidmounting bracket and a housing containing said viewable indicia and saidsignaling element.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the said targetmodule includes a first and second light element of different colors.11. A method of training a putting swing, comprising attaching a puttermodule to a putter, said putter module including at least one indiciaviewable when a users' head is substantially vertically above themodule, said putter module further including a signaling element;locating a target module including a receiving element to read saidsignaling element; directing said putter towards said target module adistance therefrom and striking a golf ball in the direction of saidtarget module, wherein said indicia provides a visual signal to the userregarding a constant velocity of said putter during said striking step,and wherein said receiving element determines if the putter issubstantially perpendicular to said target module at impact with saidgolf ball, said target module further including light elements to alertsaid user of the impact condition.
 12. A putter comprising a shaft and aball striking head and further including a putter module; said puttermodule including at least one indicia viewable when a users head issubstantially vertically above the module, said putter module furtherincluding a signaling element; and, said target module including areceiving element, and an indicating element.